Israelis See Dr. Jarring Returning to His Mideast Peace Mission

Informed diplomatic sources said here today that UN peace envoy Gunnar V. Jarring will resume his mission in the Middle East regardless of the outcome of the Four Power talks now going on in New York. (U Thant told Geneva reporters today that the Big Four had made a good start in their talks.)

The resumption of his peace mission could be a consequence of a deadlock or failure of the Four Power talks, in which case Dr. Jarring would return to the area under his previous terms of reference, based on the Security Council’s Nov. 22, 1967 resolution calling on him to promote agreement between the Arabs and Israelis, the sources said. If the talks between the U.S, Russia, Britain and France do result in some agreement, Dr. Jarring is considered likely to be entrusted with carrying out whatever is decided. Diplomats here noted that it has been the American point of view that the Four Power talks are designed to provide Dr. Jarring with a more detailed frame of reference in which to act.

Dr. Jarring’s mission was temporarily suspended when the Four Power Mideast talks began last month and he returned for the time being to his post as Sweden’s Ambassador to Moscow. He has not given up his mission. At his last meeting with Foreign Minister Abba Eban, he said he would return to the Mideast.

In another development, Premier Golda Meir warned yesterday that Israel may soon face “a bitter discussion” with friendly nations “which is more serious than a discussion with enemies.” Mrs. Meir mentioned no nations by name but appeared to be alluding to the U.S. She has said on previous occasions that while there were no basic differences in principle between Israel and Washington on Mideast peace, the two nations held divergent views on how to approach that goal. Israel has bitterly opposed the Four Power Mideast talks.

Mrs. Meir criticized Secretary-General U Thant for doing nothing despite repeated reports by the head of the UN truce observers corps, Lt. Gen. Odd Bull, that Egypt was violating the Suez cease-fire. “It may be that the UN does nothing because it fears that Jordan or Egypt may have to face condemnation,” she said.